The Carberry town council has approved a new building project for the Carberry Plains Museum, allowing for the construction of an addition dedicated to showcasing the area’s deep-rooted potato industry. On March 10, 2026, council members voted to approve a zoning variation that will allow the museum to build a 56-foot by 32-foot lean-to structure to house new displays.
The new building will sit on the museum property, and the council approval includes an adjustment to zoning rules to reduce the required rear setback from 25 feet to 10 feet to accommodate the size of the structure. Before the final vote, the town council held a public hearing regarding the proposal, as recommended by the Cypress Planning District. No members of the public attended the hearing, and no objections were raised by residents or the town.
The addition is designed to highlight the history of potato growing and processing in the region. The area surrounding the town is widely known as King Spud Country, a name that recognizes the high-quality crops grown in local soil. This agricultural identity is anchored by the McCain Foods processing plant, which has been a major part of the local economy since 1962 and currently processes approximately 430 million pounds of Manitoba-grown potatoes every year.
Brad Wells represented the museum board during the request for the zoning variation, which was moved by Deputy Mayor William Kalinowich and seconded by Councillor Samantha Van Damme. The expansion aims to provide a dedicated space to celebrate this long-standing connection between the land and the community’s industrial heritage.
